Spotting Fake News

In the year 2017, many news published by the mainstream media through their official social media handles, were reported to be fake. This year, we hope that less people fall prey to it. Please find below the listicle that is made as a ready reckoner for spotting fake news. The content on spotting fake news has been taken from Facebook’s Help Centre.

Be skeptical of headlines – False news stories often have catchy headlines in all caps with exclamation points. If shocking claims in the headline sound unbelievable, they probably are.

Look closely at the URL – A phony or look-alike URL may be a warning sign of false news. Many false news mimic authentic news sources by making small changes to the URL. You can go to the site to compare the URL to established sources.

Investigate the source – Ensure that the story is written by a source that you trust with a reputation for accuracy. If the story comes from an unfamiliar organization, check their ‘About’ section to learn more.

Watch for unusual formatting – Many false news sites have misspellings or awkward layouts. Read carefully if you see these signs.

Consider the photos – False news stories often contain manipulated images or videos. Sometimes the photo may be authentic but taken out of context. You can search for the photo or image to verify where it came from.

Inspect the dates – False news stories may contain timelines that make no sense, or event dates that have been altered.

Check the evidence – Check the author’s sources to confirm that they are accurate. Lack of evidence or reliance on unnamed experts may indicate a false news story.

Look at other reports – If no other news source is reporting the same story, it may indicate that the story is false. If the story is reported by multiple sources you trust, it’s more likely to be true.

Is this story a joke? Sometimes false news stories can be hard to distinguish from humor or satire. Check whether the source is known for parody and whether the story’s details and tone suggest it may be just for fun.

This is an earnest appeal to the readers that they do not become the medium of fake news propagation. Please notify the authorities of social media platforms and mainstream media, if you notice that dubious news is on the rising curve. As George Orwell says in 1984, “We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.”